Preparation is Key to Taking Advantage of Opportunities in Media Relations
It is sometimes assumed that the development of a communications plan is similar to the production of a play, in which the public acts as the audience. In reality, much of the work involved in public relations can be reactionary and unpredictable in nature. It is not unusual for members of Congress to determine their strategy and their message by reviewing the daily news and then deciding how they will respond to a particular issue.
photo credit: tuppusThe best work in public relations involves the creation of great plans and the adaptation of those plans based on changing circumstances. The best way to take advantage of opportunities is to prepare for opportunities in advance. Every sphere within the world of Washington public relations has its own distinct set of possible circumstances that determine the best methods for advance preparation.
Generally, the best all-in-one approach to preparing for opportunities to is to be certain you have good resources and contacts in place. This will allow you to capitalize on 
them whenever the need arises. This could mean reaching out to reporters you might not call regularly or compiling press contact lists that might not involve your primary subject area. Even though these actions might be outside your day-to-day work, they could prove crucial if conditions change.
In some cases, it might be better to allow some opportunities to simply pass by rather than attempt to capitalize upon them. The degree to which your operation is cautious or aggressive regarding opportunities will typically be determined by the personality of your principal or organization. Be on the lookout for opportunities that are worth pursuing. Ultimately, you must ask yourself whether the opportunity is close to your mission and whether the opportunity warrants changing your plans in order to pursue it. What are the costs if you should decide to pursue it? Will you be able to effectively pursue the opportunity during the short-term nature that is offered by the news cycle? Finally, determine the likelihood that you will receive positive media coverage as a result.
To learn more about the best ways to take advantage of opportunities as they arise in public relations, consider TheCapitol.Net’s Advanced Media Relations Workshop.
Reference: Media Relations Handbook, by Brad Fitch, Section 3.11 Taking Advantage of Opportunities
For more information about media training from TheCapitol.Net, see these resources:
- Media Relations Handbook, by Bradford Fitch
- Live courses in Washington, DC:
- Capitol Learning Audio Courses:
- Maximizing the Internet for the Public Affairs Professional, with Michael Cornfield
- Media Relations for the Public Affairs Professional, A Seven Course Series
- Public Affairs Primer for Nonprofits and Associations
- Media Relations: Merging Policy and Media Strategies
- How the Media Works and How to Work the Media
- Press Conferences and Media Interviews for Scientists and Engineers
Tags: Advanced Media Relations Workshop, Bradford Fitch, Communications Plan, crisis communication, Developing a Message, media opportunities, media relations, Media Relations Handbook, Media training
